Hey! I'm back! Thanks to all who reviewed! Don't give me all the credit! My dear friend helped out too!

Emerald Pearl's Thank You List

Star- Ever After is my fave movie too! I'll try to update fast!

Sakura Blossom- Glad you liked it! I'll try continuing.

Lilyflower- I hate the baroness too… She's so… evil!

Andy- I'll try to write fast! Hope you like this chapter.

Ooka- Don't worry, Syaoran will be in this chapter!

Emerin Mornlight of Rivendell- Nice name! Mighty authoressness? Me? Heheh… ^0^

MiStRy- You loved it? Yay!

Rosekeet- I'll try to put in more ideas of my own!

Panchan07- It sounds familiar? Oh dear… I'm basing this on a script summary thingy my friend printed out. Still, I'll try to add more ideas!

Daphne Li- Ah! The great Daphne Li reviewed again! Thanks! The characters fit? I hoped they would… but they'll seem OOC…

Love,

Emerald Pearls

Emerald: Thanks you all!

Sapphire: Hi! I'm Emerald's best friend! I'm helping her! She does the ideas plus typing while I try to find some things from the net to help us!

Emerald: Not to mention, she hogs the computer seat with her fat bottom. :P

Sapphire: She's real mean, you know?

Emerald: Whatever… Help me with the disclaimer Saph.

Sapphire: CCS and Ever After do not belong to Emerald or me…* sniff*

Emerald: …Life is cruel…

Just Breathe

By Emerald Pearls and Sapphire (Busybody)

Chapter 1: Free of My Gilded Cage

Year 1512…

A tall figure glanced around carefully, looking out of one of the many windows of the Li castle. Spotting no one around, he climbed out gracefully and, using a rope made out of knotted cloth, he lowered himself quickly to the ground, which lay many storeys below. He quickened his pace, hoping that the rope would not give way, when he heard a jumble of voices, growing nearer.

"I signed the marriage treaty with the King of Thailand and, by God, that boy will obey me or there will be hell to pay!"

The King of China, Li Ryu, thundered furiously as he made his way through the passage, his servant holding up a lamp.

Typical of father…

"But he does not love her, my lord," his mother argued patiently.

"It's not about love," he told her angrily, scowling.

"Well, perhaps it should be!" His mother's voice was raised, indicating that her patience had run out.

"If he is to be king, he must accept his responsibilities."

There goes father again… He heaved a sigh as he bounded to the ground.

"The sapling cannot grow in the shade of the great oak, Ryu, he needs sunlight."

"He needs a good whipping!"

He quickly ran to get his horse. His parents were probably in his room now.

"We can settle this in the morning!"

"If I can't get to sleep, neither can he!"

By now, the king's voice was extremely loud.

Selfish, selfish… The prince shook his head, as he rode away on his horse.

King Ryu stormed into his son's bedroom. He thundered towards the bed and shouted, "Syaoran!"

The bed was empty.

King Ryu groaned as he and Queen Yelan caught sight of a rope leading out of the window. Queen Yelan collapsed onto a chair.

"Oh, no. Not again."

~*~

Not too far from the Li castle…

The rooster crowed, signifying that a new day had come. The rays of gentle sunlight filtered through the windows and caressed the figure of a young girl warmly. She was sleeping by the fireplace and her auburn hair shone like spun gold when the sunlight ruffled it. In her arms, clutching it preciously towards her, was a book.

"Utopia"

She yawned slightly, and slowly, her emrald eyes opened. Sakura groaned slightly as she rolled over and slowly got up, stretching. It was time for chores.

Sakura carried the buckets of apple cores out to the pigs. She sighed, knowing that her stepmothers and stepsisters were probably snoring in bed still, drooling all the while. She rolled her eyes and threw the cores to the pigs. She watched for a while as they ran to get the cores, and then hurried to the orchard to pick some apples. She watched in interest, her hands searching for apples, as the royal guards galloped past on their horses. She then continued with her apple picking. Suddenly, there were hoof beats from another direction. She stared as she saw her father's horse galloping towards a meadow. The figure that sat astride on it was wearing a dark cloak and his face was covered. She glared.

"Oh, no you don't."

Apples in her apron, she climbed the stairs to the nearby field. As the horse, along with its mysterious rider, galloped towards her, she started throwing at him apples. Furious words rained along with the apples.

"Thief! Who are you to steal my father's horse?"

"My own has thrown his shoe; I had no choice!" His voice was muffled and a little pitiful.

"And our choice is what? To let you?" She asked defiantly.

"I was just borrowing the horse!" She snorted as she continued pelting him. "Wait! Ouch!"

He fell over. As he picked himself up, his cloak fell back, revealing his face.

Oh no… Sakura groaned inwardly.

It was His Majesty, the Crown Prince of China.

She bent on her hands and knees in respect, though she was trembling hard.

"Forgive me, your Highness, I did not see you!"

Her face was red. She had hit a prince! From under her bangs, she took a look at him. Messy chestnut hair, piercing amber eyes and a mouth set in a frown. He was very muscular and handsome too. She blushed even redder.

"Your aim would suggest otherwise." He told her, rubbing his head.

"And for that, I know I must die!" She told him, almost in remorse.

"Speak of this to no-one and I shall be lenient." Syaoran replied, trying to keep his voice dignified.

Sakura nodded weakly and humbly told him, "We have other horses, Majesty. Younger, if that is your wish."

Henry spoke softly, almost wistfully, "I have only one wish; to be free of my gilded cage."

"For your silence." He poured a pile of gold coins from a pouch generously.

Sakura blinked as he rode off and gazed at the shining coins. She smiled, as she knew what to do with it at once. She picked up some apples in her apron and ran back to the house, coins jingling merrily in her pocket.

Meiling looked in distaste at the eggs placed in front of her.

"I asked for one four-minute egg… Not four one-minute eggs!"

The last few words were spat out angrily.

Rika bowed as she took away the bowl of eggs.

Yanagi shook her head, "What did I say about your tone of voice?"

"A true lady should never raise her voice above the gentle whisper of the wind," Tomoyo told her sister angelically.

"Tomoyo, never speak unless you can improve the situation," Yanagi snapped.

She turned to her dear daughter, "That tone of voice will not approved in the royal court."

Meiling rolled her eyes, "It's not like I'll be going there. Some Thailand pig is."

"Tsk, tsk, Meiling. Nothing is final, until you're dead. Even then, I'm sure God negotiates," Yanagi told her daughter.

Yanagi looked around the table.

"Why is there no salt at this table? Sakura!" She snapped, the tone of her voice rising in anger.

Sakura, upon hearing her stepmother's calls, rushed into the scullery, "Coming!"

She emptied the apples in her apron into a basket and went to find the salt, "She's in one of her moods again."

Rika rolled her eyes and waved her ladle in the air, "Did the sun rise in the east?" Her tone was dripping with sarcasm.

"Yes, Rika, it did, and it's going to be a beautiful day!"

Sakura smiled merrily, her emerald eyes sparkling as she extracted the gold coins from her pocket. She set them on the table. The maids stared, their mouths wide open, identical looks of shocks on their faces.

Naoko blinked as she turned to Sakura, "Look at all those feathers! Child, where did you get this?"

Sakura grabbed the salt shaker and grinned, "From an angel of mercy, and I know just what to do with it."

Rika clasped her hands together, her eyes shining with hope, "Terada!"

Sakura nodded, and then added with a half-frown on her lovely face, "If the baroness can sell your husband to pay her taxes, then this can certainly bring him back! The court will have to let him go."

(Sapphire: Rika and Terada are married! Kawaii! Ohohohoho! Emerald: *sweatdrops* She's really just like Tomoyo-chan!)

Naoko, being the brainy, more cynical one suddenly frowned, "But, the king sold him to Cartier. He's bound for the Americas."

"No, he isn't. This is our home and I won't see it fall apart." Sakura shook her head defiantly, arms akimbo.

"We're waiting!" Yanagi's screech interrupted them.

"Take heed, Mistress, or these coins are as good as hers." Naoko handed the coins back to Sakura.

Sakura nodded. She gave the maids a smile before rushing up to hand the salt to her waiting stepmothers and stepsisters. She couldn't let the precious coins fall into the hands of her stepmother, for she would surely claim them as her own.

She entered the elegant dining room and plastered a polite smile on her face, "Morning, Madame, Meiling, Tomoyo. I trust you slept well."

Meiling rolled her ruby eyes and flipped her raven hair. Tomoyo smiled a shy smile and nodded discreetly at Sakura.

Yanagi glared at her stepdaughter, "What kept you?"

Her tone was venomous.

"I fell off the ladder in the orchard, but I am better now." Sakura answered politely, setting the salt next to a smirking Meiling.

Meiling eyed her stepsister disdainfully. "Someone's been reading in the fireplace again. Look at you, ash and soot everywhere." She patted her hair and her smirk grew wider.

"Some people read because they cannot think for themselves." Yanagi added, casting a cold look at Sakura.

Sakura wrung her hands nervously.

"Why don't you sleep with the pigs, Cinder-soot, if you insist on smelling like one?"

Meiling let out a giggle.

Sakura winced upon hearing the comment. Meiling's nasal voice was infuriating.

"That was harsh, Meiling." Yanagi told her dearest daughter, but the gleam in her eye said otherwise.

She turned towards Sakura, who was leaning against the wall. "Sakura, come here child." She beckoned with her flawless white hands.

Sakura gulped and approached her stepmother.

"Your appearance does reflect a certain . . .crudeness, my dear. What can I do to make you try?" Yanagi posed with her finger placed serenely on her cheek.

Sakura blinked.

"I do try, Stepmother. I do wish to please you." She told Yanagi earnestly. She trusted her from the bottom of her innocent heart. "Sometimes, I sit on my own and try to think of what else I could do, how I could act . . ."

Yanagi interrupted the girl, snorting. "Calm yourself, child. Relax."

Sakura seemed deep in thought, then she replied tentatively. "Perhaps if we brought back Terada, I would not offend you so." Her eyes were brimming with hope, but her stepmother merely snapped.

"It is your manner that offends, Sakura. In these hard times, I have sheltered you, clothed you, cared for you. All I ask is that you help me here without complaint. Is that such an extraordinary request?"

Sakura choked back tears. It was true. Her stepmother did shelter her and provide clothes, even though she was given the scullery to sleep in and a dirty dress. But, it was still true.

Sakura bowed her head. "No, Milady."

Yanagi took advantage of Sakura's naïveté.

"Then, I will hear no more talk of servants coming back. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Milady." Sakura nodded earnestly, before hurrying down the scullery to help with the chores.

"After all I do, after all I have done, it is never enough!" Yanagi heaved an exaggerated sigh.

Tomoyo shook her head sadly, ignoring her mother and pitying her dear stepsister.

Meiling, however, smirked.

How true you are, dear mother…

~*~

Emerald: Yay! I finished! Wooohooo!

Sapphire: Poor Sakura! She's so innocent. She doesn't notice her stepmother is using her.

Emerald: That's right. Well, I'll stop here. Thanks for reading!

Sapphire: Yeah. Bye!

Emerald: Please review! TTFN!